Use of the nasal spray seasonal flu vaccine
Vaccination with the nasal-spray flu vaccine is an option for healthy* people 2 to 49 years of age who are not pregnant. Even people who live with or care for those in a high risk group (including health care workers) can get the nasal-spray flu vaccine as long as they are healthy themselves and are not pregnant. The one exception is health care workers who care for people with severely weakened immune systems who require a protected hospital environment; these people should get the inactivated flu vaccine (flu shot).
Who should not be vaccinated against seasonal flu?
Some people should not be vaccinated without first consulting a physician. They include:
•People who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs.
•People who have had a severe reaction to an influenza vaccination in the past.
•Children younger than 6 months of age (influenza vaccine is not approved for use in this age group).
•People who have a moderate or severe illness with a fever should wait to get vaccinated until their symptoms lessen.
•People with a history of Guillain–Barré Syndrome (a severe paralytic illness, also called GBS) that occurred after receiving influenza vaccine and who are not at risk for severe illness from influenza should generally not receive vaccine. Tell your doctor if you ever had Guillain-Barré Syndrome. Your doctor will help you decide whether the vaccine is recommended for you.
If you have questions about whether you should get a flu vaccine, consult your health care provider.
Source: Center for Disease Control
